Ling Slams Unprofessional Torquay

Martin Ling has spoken out following his dismissal as manager, and he's non too pleased about the manner of his sacking.

Speaking to the BBC Ling wouldn't explain the details of his stress related illness, although he did say that future employers would be fully informed of what affected him this year, but he did say.

'To have a statement that was read over the phone by Thea Bristow, I think is totally unprofessional on Torquay's behalf. If they were going to get rid of me, and wanted to get rid of me, they could at least have let me come down on that Monday as they'd been saying all along, and told it face to face and man up to it. To let Thea do a statement over the phone was pretty poor practice on their behalf, if I'm totally honest.'

Ling also totally rubuffed speculation that his time away from the club season was anything to do with alcohol.

'The club were fully aware of the illness from the first day and that I would be recovered before the end of the season. The rumour about me being an alcoholic, can't be further from the truth. If I had had a heart attack or cancer and this had happened there would be uproar, but because it's a stress related interest it seems they can get away with it.'

To be fair Ling makes a fair point here, there is a lot of stock put into manager's being 'strong enough' to cope with stress and match day emotions and that does seem to have played a part in how his dismissal has been accepted in the wider community, but the club maintain it was purely for footballing elements and with Thea coming in and working with Alan Knill, whilst looking muddy, it could just be she and the board genuinely want a different direction - regardless of how we performed under Ling before he unfortunately fell ill.

Doesn't mean Martin can't really be peeved with the whole affair though, but it's probably quite telling in how he talks about Thea Bristow which is respectful.

Ling did say though that whereever he ends up in football next, he hopes future fans treat him with the same affection as Gulls fans have because he feels that the supporters have been absolutely brilliant with him during his time at the club.

Following his salvo, the club refused to say much.

An official statement from club read.

'It would be inappropriate for Torquay to comment, other than to again thank Martin for his efforts at our club and wish him the very best for the future.'

In a seperate interview with the BBC, Thea did however say.

'The team needs motivation of a different kind from what Martin was bringing. The season wasn't going the way it shoudl have been and players were not enthusiastic. New blood was needed, it was prior to the end of January.'

Supporters would point to 9 points off the Play Offs with two games in hand.